Holiday Kitchen Safety

HOW TO SURVIVE ANOTHER HOLIDAY...IN THE KITCHEN

Cooking a holiday dinner at home? You must be extra careful. The sheer
scope of the holiday feast can put unusual strains on the chef and the
kitchen alike. And, in the final hours you will have to contend with all
the helpful -assistant cooks - your family can produce; and you'll have
to keep them safe as well.

Here are a few ground rules for a fire safe holiday. Declare the kitchen
off limits to young children, and even adults who aren't preparing food.
Fewer people mean fewer chances for spills and burns.

Always cook with pot handles turned inward, and with appliance cords
safely out of the way. Protruding handles and dangling cords are too
easily pulled or jostled, spilling scalding liquids on people and
furniture.

If you're dressing up for dinner, plan to run upstairs and change just
before you serve. Frilly blouses and drooping sleeves have no place in a
working kitchen; they invite clothing fires. Roll up your sleeves and don
an apron for added safety.

Take extra care to use potholders when carrying hot vessels. Never run
across the kitchen with hot items.

Don't risk burning your fingers or spilling hot foods.

Use your potholders. In a kitchen full of relatives, be extra cautious.
If you should be bumped or tripped, it could ruin the holiday.

If a pan should catch fire on the stove, put a lid on it. You can also
use a cutting board to cover the pan. This takes the air away from the
fire and puts it out. With some baking soda, you can make a soda shaker
from a coffee can with holes punched in it. You have just made a low
cost, low-pressure fire extinguisher just perfect for the kitchen. All
you have to do is shake the baking soda over the fire and blanket it,
smothering the fire. Remember: Do not use water on a grease fire!

By using your common sense and a few precautions, you can prevent a
tragedy in your home. Please, don't include us in your holiday plans!